St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA.


CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA.
How the Great Holiday Is Ce1e-
brated Among the Subjects of
the Gar.
~rN HRISTMAS observance
!. !. ! 4
~ in Russia is marked by
IT'S certain traditional for
II K$N malities. very different
Ill ~. from those which obtain
| FEZAl Wzin the other countries of
| kWT& Europe. These, for
MCKAY generations past, have
NS-bs ! gained strong foot
A6I hold among the popula-
ton in general, and
especially among the peasantry. Christ
| mas in Russia is variOusly observed by
va riouS classes. For the rich Russian
dvorianin (nObleman), who enjoys life
| in his palace amid luxury and grandeur,
who has no daily cares and troubles to
contend with. Christmas is no more
| than any other day. If he be so dis
| nosed he NAV go to church, enjoy a
| christmas bal, visit few select friends,
| 90 out sleighing, in short have good
| fine: but is not his whole life a good
time?
1t is different with the Russian mer-
chant. This type of humanity, who, it
| NAV be observed, is generally rehgl-
| ouSly disposed, looks upon the approach
! of Christmas as upon great and SOL
emn event. which he must celebrate in
| a most appropriate and genuinely Rus
sian style. For him Christmas means a
day of rest, prayer, family devotion,
charity and dignified pleasure. 10 Gel
| citrate Christmas in true Russian
style means to show the greatest posi-
1 II. nr.sIn frIn
! strangers, rich or poor.
The first sight that meets strangers
| eve upon entering merchants house
| upon Christmas eve or Christmas day
! is large table adorned with various
| fruits. wines, sweetmeats and fancy
| baked dishes, placed in the center OF the
room and surrounded by chairs. This
| lunch is called the Zakuska. Each Wis
| itor. upon entering the house and dellv-
| ering his customary SalutatiOn to the
host and hostess, is politely asked by
| the latter to help himself to some re-
| freshment. Upon such occasions the
| bright samovar, or tea urn, never leaves
the table, and ''tchaepitie" tea drink
ing) is kept up for almost the whole day
and night. Thus the merchant spends
his Christmas quietly and peacefully
| amid his family and friends, preserving
I ill luC lllIlC III VI '1OoPAeU1te =
which for centuries have descended
from one generation to the next.
| THE PEASANTS CHRISTMAS.
| What is said of the dvOrianin and
merchant is hardly applicable to the
! peasant. The latter lives life OF his
| own, a life made up of misery and
WretchedneSs, and yet not wholly de-
prived of some peculiar joys. Through
out the Ukrafna, or Little Russia.
| Christmas is observed as great sacred
day. Weeks before Christmas prepare
tons for welcoming the so-called
christmas Kutia'' BARLEY grits( are
| going on in peasants hut. The hut is
WhiteWaShed, the floor and polatla (bed
of boards) are scrubbed, the holy I'M
ages. or ikonS, on the walls are adorned
| with coarse linen towels embroid-
cred, few crosses, neatly made of
straw or hay, are nailed upon the ceiling
and wall. A bench covered with hay is
placed at the corner, under st. Nicholas
| image, upon which rests the pot with
the sacred kutia. The head of the
| family, after offering prayer and eX-
pressing few wishes before the kutia
| such as, that the next summers crop
| may be abundant, or that general pros
| perity may crown his hOme-takes his
| seat at the head of the table. His exam
pie is followed by the rest of the men,
| bers. The pot with the kutia is soon
| placed before them and, after few
| more fOrmalities, is devOured with great
| appetite. After this is done all dress
| themselves in their best clothes and
| start out to church.
| | once awaited myself of an OppOr-
tunity of visiting village church on a
| Christmas eve. The impression made
upon me by the sermon, the audience
| and the ceremonies in general may be
worthy of a few lines of description.
The church was brightly Illuminated by
| hundreds of wax candles, donated by
| good folks for the salvation of their
souls. These were fastened here and
| there all over the wall. The priest or
pope standing at the altar and accom-
| panied by the deacon and SacriStan read
| portions from the Psalms, appropriate
for the occasion. In solemn and I'M
pressive voice he addressed his audi
ence, imploring them to repent, white
wash'' their souls and do away
with their vodka, which leads them only
to poverty and corruptiOn; then he
| briefly reviewed the history of Christ,
His readiness to endure His cross and
| die for the salvation of mankind. He
depicted in the gloOmiest colorS the bru-
| tality with which He was treated by the
| Jews. A solemn silence. interrupted at
| times by a slight cough of some old man
or woman, prevailed during the whole
time of the sermon. 1t was a most i'm
pressiVe scene, such as | never witnessed
| before. 1t was after 9 O'Clock when the
ringing of the church bells announced
that the service was finished. All
rushed for their homes, apparently en-
tertaining bright hopes of having jolly
| time !. e.. of spending their last hard
| earned kOpeks for the vodka that the
priest bad warned them against.
| CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
1t is customary among the young
peasantry of Little Russia 10 go out on
a Christmas Eve on ''kolodievka''
| (serenade). This habit is strictly OBJ
served. As soon as church is over the
Young dievkas girls, as wells as para
boks young fellOws), assemble in GER
tain place, where parties of eight or ten
are made up. After each party selects
a certain section of the village for their
kolOdievka they all start out. The kolo-
| dieYka is sung in the following manner.
Placing themselves in front of gate or
window, or, as it often happens, en-
tering a hut, they begin in a cheerful and
ringing voice:
f'Jesus is with us, good peoplei
His holy spirit rests with us
Hallelujahl
Forever be generous, good people,
Hallelujahl
Forever be generous, good people,
| "And don't forget US, who came to
cheer your souls with this holy song of
Jesus, Our Lord"
These last words, which are spoken
| and nnf cupp are intended for thp